Method of performing a surgical procedure and associated surgical instrument support tray

Abstract

A method of performing a surgical procedure includes providing an instrument supporting tray having a plurality of surgical instruments positioned thereon adjacent to a plurality of instrument-identifying indicia disposed in predetermined relative positions. In performing the surgical procedure, the surgical instruments will be employed generally in the sequence in which they are positioned on the tray. The surgical instruments are identified by at least one of (a) graphics corresponding generally to the shape of the particular surgical instrument, (b) recesses conforming generally to the shape of the surgical instrument and (c) words and/or numbers providing identification thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the instrument-identifying indicia will be provided with different instruments in different sequences, depending upon the specific surgical procedure. In a further embodiment, the instrument-identifying indicia will be keyed both in terms of identity of instrument and sequence of presentation to the preference of the particular surgeon. The surgical instrument support of the present invention has a surgical instrument supporting surface for supporting a plurality of surgical instruments and instrument-identifying indicia disposed in predetermined relative position to establish a sequence which corresponds generally to the sequence in which the surgical instruments will be employed. The instrument-identifying indicia also serves to provide, by at least one of (a) graphics, (b) recesses and (c) words and/or numbers specific identification of the instrument.

I claim: 
     
       1. A method of performing a surgical procedure comprising providing a plurality of surgical instruments, each having an appearance,   providing an instrument supporting tray having said plurality of surgical instruments positioned thereon,   providing said tray with a plurality of instrument identifying indicia disposed in a sequence of predetermined relative positions with the identified surgical instruments positioned adjacent to said instrument identifying indicia respectively related thereto,   performing a surgical procedure employing said surgical instruments generally in the sequence in which said instrument-identifying indicia are present, and   employing a sterilizable flexible tray having a pocket for receipt of said instrument-identifying indicia and a transparent wall whereby said instrument-identifying indicia may be seen from the exterior of said tray.   
     
     
       2. The method of performing a surgical procedure of claim 1 selecting and positioning said surgical instruments to correspond with the surgical procedure being performed.   
     
     
       3. The method of performing a surgical procedure of claim 2 including selecting and positioning said surgical instruments according to a specific surgeon's preference.   
     
     
       4. The method of performing a surgical procedure of claim 2 comprising employing as said instrument-identifying indicia at least one of (a) graphic representations corresponding generally to the appearance of said surgical instrument, (b) words, and (c) numbers.   
     
     
       5. The method of performing a surgical procedure of claim 4 including establishing said instrument-identifying indicia by printing on said tray.   
     
     
       6. The method of performing a surgical procedure of claim 2 including employing as said instrument-identifying indicia at least one of (a) recesses in said tray corresponding generally to the appearance of said surgical instrument, (b) words, and (c) numbers.   
     
     
       7. The method of performing a surgical procedure of claim 2 including employing as said tray a flexible tray which can be rolled or folded for storage.   
     
     
       8. The method of performing a surgical procedure of claim 2 including employing a sterilizable tray as said tray.   
     
     
       9. The method of performing a surgical procedure of claim 2 including employing a transparent sterile drape overlying said instrument-identifying indicia.   
     
     
       10. The method of performing a surgical procedure of claim 1 including employing at least some of said instruments more than once during said surgical procedure.   
     
     
       11. A method of performing a surgical procedure comprising: providing a plurality of surgical instruments, each having an appearance,   providing an instrument supporting tray having said plurality of surgical instruments positioned thereon,   providing said tray with a plurality of instrument identifying indicia disposed in a sequence of predetermined relative positions with the identified surgical instruments positioned adjacent to said instrument identifying indicia respectively related thereto, and   performing a surgical procedure employing said surgical instruments generally in the sequence in which said instrument-identifying indicia are present;   employing a sterilizable flexible tray, and securing an instrument-identifying indicia bearing element to said tray;   employing said tray having a pocket for receipt of said instrument-identifying indicia bearing element and a transparent wall whereby said instrument-identifying indicia may be seen from the exterior of said tray.   
     
     
       12. The method of performing a surgical procedure of claim 10 including positioning said tray on a generally rigid support surface during said surgical procedure.   
     
     
       13. The method of performing a surgical procedure of claim 1 comprising employing said process in a procedure performed on a human being by a surgeon.   
     
     
       14. The method of performing a surgical procedure of claim 13 including providing on said tray identification of said surgeon and said surgeon non-instrument surgical equipment preferences.   
     
     
       15. The method of performing a surgical procedure of claim 1 including the step of securing an instrument-identifying indicia bearing element to said tray.   
     
     
       16. A surgical instrument support tray comprising a surgical instrument supporting surface for supporting a plurality of surgical instruments, said surgical instruments being employable in a sequence in a surgical procedure,   instrument-identifying indicia disposed in predetermined relative position generally corresponding to the sequence in which said surgical instruments will be employed,   wherein each said instrument has an appearance; and   said instrument-identifying indicia includes a visual depiction of said instruments established by a two dimensional graphics and recesses corresponding to the appearance of said instruments.   
     
     
       17. The surgical instrument support tray of claim 16 including said tray having said instrument-identifying indicia identifying the instruments and relative sequence of use for a particular surgeon in a specific surgical procedure.   
     
     
       18. The surgical instrument support tray of claim 16 including said tray having additional information regarding said surgeon's specific non-instrument equipment preferences.   
     
     
       19. The surgical instrument support tray of claim 16 including said tray being sterilizable.   
     
     
       20. The surgical instrument support tray of claim 19 including said tray being flexible so as to permit rolling or folding for storage without meaningful damage thereto.   
     
     
       21. The surgical instrument support tray of claim 20 including said instrument-identifying indicia being printed on said tray.   
     
     
       22. The surgical instrument support tray of claim 20 including said instrument-identifying indicia being printed on a separate element which is secured to said tray.   
     
     
       23. The surgical instrument support tray of claim 16 including a transparent sterile drape overlying the portion of said tray bearing said instrument-identifying indicia.   
     
     
       24. A surgical instrument support tray comprising: a surgical instrument supporting surface for supporting a plurality of surgical instruments, said surgical instruments being employable in a sequence in a surgical procedure,   instrument-identifying indicia disposed in predetermined relative position generally corresponding to the sequence in which said surgical instruments will be employed,   said tray being sterilizable,   said tray being flexible so as to permit rolling or folding for storage without meaningful damage thereto,   said instrument-identifying indicia being printed on said tray, and   said tray having a pocket within which said separate element is secured and an adjacent transparent tray wall to permit said instrument-identifying indicia to be viewed.   
     
     
       25. A surgical instrument support tray comprising: a surgical instrument supporting surface for supporting a plurality of surgical instruments, said surgical instruments being employable in a sequence in a surgical procedure,   instrument-identifying indicia disposed in predetermined relative position generally corresponding to the sequence in which said surgical instruments will be employed,   said tray being sterilizable,   said tray being flexible so as to permit rolling or folding for storage without meaningful damage thereto,   said instrument-identifying indicia being printed on a portion of said tray, and   said tray being printed with instrument-identifying indicia on a separate element which is positioned on another portion of said tray.   
     
     
       26. A surgical instrument support tray comprising: a surgical instrument supporting surface for supporting a plurality of surgical instruments, said surgical instruments being employable in a sequence in a surgical procedure, and   instrument-identifying indicia disposed in predetermined relative position generally corresponding to the sequence in which said surgical instruments will be employed,   said tray being sterilizable,   said tray being flexible so as to permit rolling or folding for storage without meaningful damage thereto,   said instrument-identifying indicia being printed on a separate element which is secured to said tray,   said separate element being printed with instrument-identifying information on both sides and said tray having two said transparent walls.